Enable or Disable Word Wrap in VS Code

Word wrap automatically breaks a long line of text so it fits within your current editor window, without you needing to scroll horizontally. It doesn’t add line breaks to your file; it just wraps it visually.

Picture this: You’re writing a long JavaScript function or a long SQL query. Without word wrap, you’d be endlessly dragging that horizontal scrollbar. With it, everything folds neatly within view.

This is especially useful when:

• You're working on a small screen.
• You want cleaner screenshots of your code.
• You prefer not to lose track of long lines.

Now, let's see how to turn it on or off when needed.

Method 1: The quickest toggle - Alt + Z

Yep, there’s a shortcut for it!

1. Open any file in VS Code.
2. Press Alt + Z on your keyboard.

And that’s it! Word wrap is toggled. Hit it again to switch it off.

Method 2: Use the command palette

Prefer something a bit more visual? The Command Palette is your go-to.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + P (or Cmd + Shift + P on macOS).
2. Type Toggle Word Wrap.
3. Click the option when it appears.

This is ideal if you’re not sure of the shortcut or just want to double-check before toggling.

Method 3: Set a default from settings

Want word wrap always on (or always off) when you open VS Code? You can change the default behavior.

1. Go to File > Preferences > Settings

2. Search for “word wrap.”

3. Under Editor: Word Wrap, choose from the following options:

• off: Never wrap.
• on: Always wrap.
• wordWrapColumn: Wrap at a specific column number.
• bounded: Wrap at viewport or column, whichever is smaller.

You can also tweak "editor.wordWrap" in settings.json if you prefer working directly with config files.

Wrapping up!

Word wrap might seem like a tiny detail, but it’s one of those “small things” that can make coding a lot more pleasant. Take the indentation settings for example, another crucial piece for code readability and collaboration. Yes, the tabs vs spaces debate lives on 😄

We’ll continue exploring more quick yet powerful tips to help you make the most of VS Code.

Until then, go ahead and wrap those words your way.